Friday, February 17, 2006

Black History Month & GOOD TIMES

Below is a copy/paste of a post from my Practical ideas to improve Black History Month thread at CBR.

'Your GOOD TIMES comment reminded me of something. Wasn't Norman Lear the one who came up with GOOD TIMES? Whomever it was was a white man, I believe, and he chose to do a story, not just about Black folks, but about somewhat REAL Black folks (about as much as is possible in a situation comedy from the 70's, anyway).

He could've figuratively done what a LOT of doll-makers do literally - gotten the same old white dolls and painted them brown, so they can stake a claim on diversity. A lot of Black dolls don't have Black features, but people are so glad to see'em that they scoop'em up. Similarly, some folks might get some white characters and make'em Black, on the outside, but having nothing other than skin pigmentation to demonstrate that they really are Black people living in America in... whatever time-period. That's not always a bad thing, but sometimes we can have too much of a "good thing."

Anyway, this is something worth pointing out in Black History Month, I think. Black folks were shown, in a somewhat silly, but often thought-provoking way that provided a bit of depth into their personalities and perspectives... and they didn't all think or feel the same way.

I said in bert's thread about Marvel's "Rawhide policy" that it'd be NICE if an organization took it upon itself to step out there and do "the right thing," even if it isn't the popular thing... but that it's understandable when they don't. I may not fully agree with the latter decision, but I understand it.

Well, Norman Lear made multiple attempts, I think, to show that Blacks, gays, women, and people, in general, can be portrayed in a wider range of ways... and that doing so can result in critical, professional, and financial success.

I think it's a good general lesson and I think it's one that speaks to the value of tweaking the delivery of Black History Month... showing how it can encompass more than just the history of Blacks... and that it's not just accomplished BY Blacks.

I think it says a helluva lot when someone cares, not just about their own issues, but those that largely affect others. Some people see this as being offended FOR other people and consider it to be a silly, sad, and tired offense. As you might imagine, I disagree.'

Questions? Comments?

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